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‘One of the better arms’ in Twins system, Saints’ Andrew Bechtold becomes two-way player

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

The story has a Hollywood feel to it.It was late April in Rochester, N.Y., and Saints utility player Andrew Bechtold was catching as various pitchers threw a bullpen session. When the work was done, Bechtold asked if it would be OK if he got on the mound and throw a few.Saints pitching coach Pete Larson picks things up from there:“We still had the (video and pitch speed-measuring equipment) running and he started going up the ladder a little bit — 94 (mph), 95, 96, 97 — and then had a rounded-up 98.”Word soon spread throughout the organization about what had taken place. Within a week, Bechtold was on a program aimed at turning him into a two-way player.Skip ahead to late June in Toledo, Ohio, with the 27-year-old Bechtold — who had never been a pitcher, going as far back as high school — making his professional pitching debut. He followed that up with his second outing on Thursday at CHS Field.The only thing missing is the storybook ending, and Larson said it might just be a matter...

Feds take action on suicide inside VA Hospital after Fox Files investigations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The feds just released a report outlining failures that led to a VA patient dying by suicide in the ER. FOX 2 first uncovered the case when it happened in 2021.A 47-page report from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, lays out the deficiencies we exposed in a series of FOX Files reports. It also uncovered a doctor’s alleged attempt to interfere with the federal investigation.On September 29, 2021, a military veteran walked into the emergency room at the John Cochran V.A. Medical Center. Kenneth Hagans, 61, was found dead by suicide about two and a half hours later.According to the newly released O.I.G. report, Hagans told hospital staff, “I don’t want to die,” and reported he was “dissatisfied with life.” The report also criticized the hospital for taking six months to disclose its failures to the patient’s family. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway Hagan’s son, Graie talked with FOX 2's team vir...

Severe weather postpones Cardinals game and other events in St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It started with triple-digit temperatures, and then it turned to downpours. Still, many filled the streets throughout St. Louis on Friday."I'll still be there, rain, regardless," said Alexis Shaw, who came out to Ballpark Village with her brother.Much like Shaw, the temperatures and the rain did not stop people from showing up, and much of the reason was the big game."To see the Yankees play the Cardinals," said John Most.He came from California to visit family and watch an anticipated game.As the heat moved to heavy rain, progressively getting worse, batting up to the plate was postponed. The Cardinals quickly issued a release rescheduling the game for Saturday at 6:15 p.m., making it a double-header event. The second game, originally planned for Saturday, will proceed as scheduled at 1:15 p.m. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway The crazy conditions are something some have seen at Busch Stadium before."My parents have actua...

Widespread storm damage in Columbia, Illinois 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

COLUMBIA, Ill. - Storm damage left behind downed tree limbs and widespread power outages in Columbia, Illinois, on Friday.Jeff Barrett was visiting his girlfriend in the Columbia Lakes subdivision when the storm passed through. He said there was a round of hail, but then the skies turned sunny. He thought the worst was over."All of a sudden, it just got windy,” Barrett said. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway He said tree debris in the area was widespread.It was pretty scary,” said Tom Soltysiak, a neighborhood resident.“All the trees back here have got some kind of damage to them.”The Columbia Police Department reported that there is extensive damage in various locations, with power lines being down in numerous areas. It is advised that residents steer clear of those downed power lines and immediately report them to the authorities so that the necessary repairs can be carried out.

APA of Missouri warns of heat danger for pets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park in Maryland Heights had a few bicyclists, walkers, and joggers on the trail Friday afternoon. During the peak of the heat, there were no dog walkers in sight.Kelly Williams was walking the trail that wraps around the lake but left her dogs behind.“It’s too hot,” she said. “The pavement will burn their pads, so we stay in the house when it’s this hot. We don’t walk.”Kim Brown is the vice president and COO of the Animal Protection Association of Missouri. She encourages pet owners to be mindful of the toll extreme heat can take.“Excessive panting would be a sign of heat concern," Brown said. This St. Louis suburb named among Money.com’s ’50 best places’ to live Drooling, fatigue, nausea, or being unsteady on their feet are also indications, it’s time to seek cooler air.Brown said that even if the AC goes out at your home, there are other steps you can take to keep your pets cool. She suggests taking your pets to the basement or ...

Biden vows to pursue student debt relief with a different law

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Even as he denounced the Supreme Court ruling striking down his student debt forgiveness program and blamed Republicans for going after it, President Joe Biden said Friday that his administration would start a new effort to cancel college loans under a different law.The law Biden cited, the Higher Education Act of 1965, contains a provision — Section 1082 of Title 20 of the U.S. Code — that gives the secretary of education the authority to “compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand, however acquired, including any equity or any right of redemption.”Some proponents of student debt relief had proposed that the Biden administration invoke this law as the basis of the president’s original loan cancellation program. In February 2021, for example, a group of Democrats including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, introduced a resolution urging that step.But as the COVID-19 pandemic swelled, the Bide...

38 cats rescued, found hoarded in unsanitary trailer in Monrovia

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Pasadena Humane Society officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on Friday.The felines were discovered in cramped and unsanitary conditions inside a small space with no air conditioning, rescuers said.Some of the cats were found suffering from upper respiratory issues, but all were later listed in stable condition.Following removal from the stationary trailer, the cats were transported to a shelter, where they received medical exams before being placed into kennels with food, water, and fresh bedding.Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)...

Orange County official warns beachgoers about aggressive sea animals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

As the holiday weekend approaches, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley is warning beachgoers about sea animals that may behave aggressively toward them.Distressed, sick sea animals have begun washing up on O.C. beaches due to the growth of toxic algae. “We ask beachgoers not to approach or touch stranded marine animals due to the potential risk of serious bodily harm,” said Supervisor Foley. “As we approach the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it is critical to keep both people and pets away from these distressed animals.”Supervisor Foley says that the Pacific Marine Mammal Center is helping to care for the increasing amount of washed-up animals. She warns beachgoers, “If you see a sick sea lion or dolphin on the beach, get a lifeguard and call the Pacific Marine Mammal Center Rescue Team.”

Alameda County claims Hayward city leaders misrepresented ‘isolated’ incidents at foster center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Alameda County hit back Friday against allegations it allowed a foster center in Hayward to spiral out of control, alleging the city’s leaders misrepresented “isolated” incidents at the building and then stopped collaborating on efforts to address concerns about the site.The rebuttal, which was aired in a late Friday afternoon news release, came slightly more than a week after the city of Hayward filed a lawsuit against the county accusing it of “deliberate indifference” in its handling of the foster center on the city’s north side.City leaders claim the building — which is used as a receiving center for children entering, or changing placements within, the county’s foster system — recently devolved into a hotbed of child prostitution and drug use after sheriff’s deputies were inexplicably removed from the facility in mid-February. As a result, the city’s police department has become overrun with calls to the building — the majority of which...

A note to readers about article commenting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Beginning July 1, 2023, we will no longer host comments on our websites.We understand that comments can be a good way to discuss and debate the news and to interact with other members of the community. However, open comments, because they are difficult to moderate, sometimes become forums for spam, or worse, abusive and hateful speech that is not in line with our desire to host a free exchange of ideas in a manner that is courteous and respectful. In addition, testing has shown that removing the comments will improve site load times, which means less waiting and a better user experience for our valued readers and subscribers.As always, we love to hear from our readers. If you want to reach us, our reporters’ email addresses are on staff stories that we post. You can also send your feedback on article commenting to us at [email protected] are also active on social media, and we would be delighted if you would follow us on Twitter or visit our Facebook page. And if you ...